Lighting fixture



Aug. 17, 1943. E H, WEBER 2,327,230

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April ll, 1941 v BY v 4 ATTORNEY atentecl Aug. 17, 1.943

LIGHTING FIXTURE Edward H. Weber, Meriden, Conn., assignor to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn., a corporation o! Connecticut Application April 11, 1941, Serial No. 388,046

3 Claims.` (Cl. 24U-78) The present invention relates to lighting fixlres, and is more particularly directed toward tally enclosed fluorescent lighting xtures.

The present invention contemplates fiuorescent ghting fixtures wherein a generally horizontal )dy supports a number of fluorescent lamp sock- ;s and lamps, and wherein the body has end ,ates and hinged closures adapted to completely iclose the lamps and all except the top part of le body.

According to the present invention the hinged osures are arranged so that they extend subantially t the center of the fixture and are ald in closed positionagainst a reinforcing strip hich extends between the end plates.

Other and further objects of the invention ill hereinafter appear as'the description proreds.

The accompanying drawing shows, for pur- Jses of illustrating the present invention, an nbodiment in which the invention may take rrm, it being understood that the drawing is lustrative of the invention rather than limiting le same.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view of the fixture; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the xlre;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of i Lgure l; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of .gure 3.

The fixture is carried at the lower end of two :rtical pipes I Il, Ill fastened to cross straps I I, by nuts indicated at I2, I2. The ends I3, I3 the straps I I, II are Awelded to inwardly bent anges I4, I4 carried by a sheet metal body I5 generally trough shaped configuration. This dy is secured to end plates I 6, I6 in any confnient manner, for example, by screws II ueaded into lugs I8. The end plates also carry gs I9, I9 to which cross straps 20 are secured r bolts 2 I'. These cross straps support a channel naped longitudinally extending member 22 hich interconnects the two end plates and stiffls the fixture.

The body I carries pairs of fluorescent lamp ckets 23 adapted to support fluorescent lamps l below the body and the body also carries the rual fluorescent lamp auxiliaries indicated at i. The top of the body I5 carries hooks 2B lapted to enter holes 25a in U-shaped straps 21. bese straps are secured to channel shaped mem- :rs 28, 28 which receive a sheet of diffusing plastic 29 bent to conform to the shape of the straps 21.

The lower channels 28 are adapted to swing in against the fixed channel 22, as indicated in Figure 3, and owing to the configuration of the parts the hinged closures naturally assume this closed position. They are held in the closed position by knobs 3 0 carried on rods 3| which pass through the cross plates 20. These rods carry springs 32 and nuts 33 so that the rods are urged upwardly. When 'the knobs 30 are in the posiy tion shown in Figure 3 they overlap the hinged closures, and when the knobs are turned to the dot-and-dash line position indicated in Figure 4 the hinged closures are released. The hooks 2B are preferably made long enough to permit a slight sliding movement of the hinged closures on the hooks as indicated at the leit of Figure 3, so that when the hinged closures are swung up they may be moved slightly to lock the closures in open position so that they will not interfere with lamp renewal.

When it is desired to permit some light to escape through the end plates, these end plates are provided with openings indicated by the dotted lines 34, 34 of Figure 3, and these holes are covered with sheets of plastic diffusing material 35. The end plate may be made so that the sockets are concealed by the opaque portions.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What is .claimed is:

l. A fluorescent lighting fixture adapted for pendent mounting and to lprovide a substantial upward component of light for indirect lighting, comprising a fixed horizontal body which includes a trough-like member, end plates secured to the trough-like member, a pair of fiuorescent lamps supported below the central /portion of the trough-like member, a second pair of fluorescent lamps supported opposite the upper side portions of the trough-like member, the end plates extending a substantial distance beyond the upper lamps and below the lower lamps, a centrally disposed reinforcing strip between the end plates, a pair of generally trough shaped diffusing closures extending from one end plate to the other and from the reinforcing strip to the upper, outer edges of the trough-like member so that al1 light escaping upwardly, laterally or downwardly is diffused, and hinge connections between the body and the top of each closure whereby each closure can be swung upwardly and outwardly to give access to the lamps adjacent the raised closure, the weight of the closures normally maintaining them in the lower or closed position.

2. A fluorescent lighting iixture adapted for pendent mounting and to provide a substantial upward component of light for indirect lighting,

comprising a xed horizontal body which includes a trough-like member, end plates secured is diffused,and hingev connections'between the.

body and the top of each closure. the hinge rconnections including relatively slidable parts which permit the closures to swing freely when the .parts are in yone position, and prevent Swingin when the closure is in the open position and sli to the other position. 1

3. A fluorescent lighting ilwture adapted for" pendent mounting and to provide a substantial upward component of light for indirect lighting, comprising a fixed horizontal body which includes a trough-like member, end plates secured to the trough-like member, a pair of fluorescent lamps supported below the central portion of the trough-like member. a second pair of fluorescent lamps supported opposite the upper side portions of the trough-dike member, the end plates extending a substantial distance beyond the upper lamps and below the lower lamps, a centrally disposed reinforcing strip between the end plates, a pair of generally trough shaped diffusing closures extending from one endfplate to the other and from the reinforcing strip to the edges of the trough-like member so that all light escaping upwardly, laterally or downwardly is diffused, and spring actuated knobs carried by thel reinforcing strip and engageable with the lower edges of the closure members to hold them' against the strip.

EDWARD H. WEBER. 

